to heavy for unique?

R

riverratt

New member
I'm looking for a starting load using either unique or hs-6 under a 265gr lead bullet in 44mag. None of my books list either powder, I'm sure the hs-6 can be used as I've seen loads for 300 gr jacketed bullets but nothing with unique.

My goal is to find a load around 1100 fps. I think 12.5 gr of hs-6 would work as a start but I only have 1 1/2 lb of that left and I have just under 16 lbs of unique.
 
My Lyman cast bullet manual shows
265gr cast bullet
Unique powder
Min 10.6gr = 970fps @ 29,000 cup
Max 11.7gr = 1099fps @ 39,990 cup

FWIW that is the fastest powder for that weight and it is not listed for any of the heavier bullets . I have 4 manuals in total and none show HS-6 being used for any load for the 44 Remington Mag

Hodgdon web site has
270 GR. SPR GDSP
HS-6
Min 11gr = 1036fps @ 22,200 cup
Max 14gr = 1305fps @ 36,900 cup

I have no idea what bullet that is but If I had to guess I'd say Speer gold dot soft point . If so that's a jacketed bullet .
 
From "Taffin Tests" "One of my favorite heavyweight bullets is NEI's #295.429GC. As the number indicates, this bullet weighs in just under 300 grains and wears a gas check and I have yet to find a .44 Magnum sixgun that won't sing with this load. My favortie loads for this bullet are 21.5 grains of WW296 or H110 for 1300 to 1400 feet per second and superb accuracy and maximum penetration, or 10.0 grains of Unique for a more sedate and easier to shoot 1150 feet per second. The latter makes an excellent load for deer-sized game without giving excessive felt recoil. Bull-X has a new 300 grain bullet and the same charge of 10.0 grains of Unique also gives 1150 feet per second and a good shootin' load."

http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt44mag.htm

I think that 265gr at 1100 fps should be completely achievable with Unique, depending on barrel length of course.

Jimro
 
You can certainly try it. Unique under a 265 isn't out of the question. If I were in your situation, I wouldn't hesitate starting a work up.

Your pressure curve will be steep, so being meticulous with our charge weights, and observant while shooting them out at the range is in order.

I don't know if you'll reach your desired velocity, but if you do, you'll be running Unique about as clean as it can run - I'll tell you that much.

I consider Unique and HS-6 both to be "medium" speed pistol powders. But they are very different animals. HS-6 is clearly slower. It also has a lower energy output and thus, is a lot more forgiving.
 
I developed a load for my S&W 329PD 4" that would work in my S&W 629C 6-1/2" and Marlin 1894SS 20" using 265 grain Bear Tooth Bullets (BTB)and Unique powder. I was looking for the lowest loading. I started at about 10 grains and worked down to 8.9 grains.

8.9 grains Unique with 265 grain BTBs:
S&W 629C 1050 fps
S&W 329PD 1000 fps
Marlin 1894SS 1200 fps

I would not start any lower than this.
 
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I think HS-6 may be a better choice.

I'm not loading it in 44 mag, however I'm using 12 grs of HS-6 under a 270 gr WFN cast bullet at a little over 1100fps in my 45 Colt loads.

It's a very accurate load and as for recoil it's easy on the hands.
 
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